Latest News - February 2025

Network Scouts turn up in force to lending a helping hand

Well, that was quite a day for getting things done with work being undertaken at the MOWS maintenance compound, down at Eye Kettleby Lock and several places on the Eye in between.Want to write an article for the newsletter. So used the relying on a tiny band of workers, the Scouts were very welcome volunteers today.

And they turned up in force. They are from all around the UK and members of Scout Network – all between the ages of 17 and 25. Together with their leaders, they are currently camping at Melton Mowbray District Scouts camp site at Holwell Pastures.In July they will be off to Madagascar for three weeks working with Malagasy Scouts and local partner organisations, building shared experiences, exchanging ideas, contributing to local community and Scout projects and exploring Madagascar.

Their camp in Melton is one of a number being held around the country in preparation for the trip.

With so many hands available, it was an ideal opportunity to get the rowing boats ready for the new season with painting below the waterline to try and repel the growth which attaches to the hulls. And a great job they did! That will save quite a few weekends’ work. There was also some more touching up on trip boat Wreake Voyager.

A group went down river on workboat Badger, removed more rubbish from around the footbridge, recovered yet another bit of metal fencing that had been thrown in the river and then cleared even more rubbish which had gathered just above the weir at Rhubarb Island – a spot that was cleared only two weeks ago.

At Eye Kettleby Lock vegetation was cut back, and a start was made burning some of the wood that has been retrieved from the river over the past few months.

A huge amount achieved and big thanks to the Scouts. It was great having them with us.

Now, if only we could have so many volunteers every week. We’d have the Navigation open to Syston by the end of the year... Many thanks everybody!

A few more pictures (right) from the event showing the rowing boats with their hulls in the smart new Navy Blue coating. A great job done by the Network Scouts.